Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for a user equipment (UE) operating in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting uplink data; receiving uplink grant after the uplink data is transmitted; considering that the uplink data transmission is performed successfully, if a resource size of the uplink grant is ‘zero;’ performing a Hybrid-ARQ (HARQ) process of the uplink data as successful uplink transmission; and setting a HARQ feedback value of the HARQ process to ‘ACK,’ wherein the setting of the resource size of the uplink grant to ‘zero’ includes a transport block size of the uplink grant is set to zero.
In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) transmits uplink data to a base station, which typically responds with an uplink grant to allocate resources for subsequent transmissions. A known issue arises when the base station acknowledges successful data reception but does not require further uplink resources, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and HARQ (Hybrid-Automatic Repeat Request) feedback handling. To address this, a method involves the UE transmitting uplink data and then receiving an uplink grant with a resource size set to zero. Upon detecting this zero-sized grant, the UE interprets the transmission as successful, completes the HARQ process by marking it as a successful uplink transmission, and sets the HARQ feedback value to ACK (acknowledgment). The zero-sized grant explicitly indicates successful reception without allocating additional resources, optimizing resource usage and feedback mechanisms. This approach ensures efficient communication by avoiding unnecessary retransmissions while maintaining reliable data delivery. The transport block size within the uplink grant is set to zero to signal this acknowledgment, streamlining the HARQ process for the UE.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the UE receives the uplink grant of which the resource size is zero, the UE doesn't generate a MAC PDU for the uplink grant.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically methods for handling uplink grants in user equipment (UE) to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary processing. In wireless networks, a base station (e.g., gNB) allocates uplink resources to UEs via uplink grants, which specify the time-frequency resources available for data transmission. However, in some cases, the base station may send an uplink grant with a zero resource size, indicating no actual resources are allocated. Traditionally, UEs would still generate a Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) for such grants, leading to wasted processing power and signaling overhead. The invention addresses this inefficiency by modifying the UE's behavior when receiving an uplink grant with a zero resource size. Instead of generating a MAC PDU, the UE recognizes the zero-sized grant as an indication that no transmission is required, thereby skipping unnecessary MAC layer processing. This reduces computational overhead and conserves battery life, particularly in scenarios where zero-sized grants are frequently used, such as for scheduling requests or buffer status reports. The method ensures compliance with network protocols while optimizing resource utilization. The invention applies to 5G New Radio (NR) and other wireless communication standards where uplink grants may include zero-sized allocations.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the UE doesn't generate a MAC PDU for the uplink grant even if there is a data available for transmission.
A method for managing uplink data transmission in a wireless communication system, particularly in scenarios where a user equipment (UE) receives an uplink grant but has data available for transmission. The method addresses the inefficiency of generating a Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) when the UE has no data to transmit, which can lead to unnecessary signaling overhead and resource waste. The invention modifies the standard behavior of the UE by preventing the generation of a MAC PDU for the uplink grant when data is available but not yet ready for transmission. This ensures that the UE only transmits data when it is fully prepared, reducing unnecessary MAC layer processing and improving overall system efficiency. The method integrates with existing uplink scheduling mechanisms, where the UE receives an uplink grant from a base station, but instead of automatically generating a MAC PDU, it evaluates the readiness of the data before proceeding. This approach optimizes resource utilization by avoiding the transmission of incomplete or unnecessary data, thereby enhancing the performance of the wireless communication system. The solution is particularly useful in scenarios where data transmission delays or buffering occurs, ensuring that only valid and complete data is sent.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UE transmits a buffer status reporting of which a buffer size is set to zero with the uplink data.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to techniques for buffer status reporting in user equipment (UE) devices. The problem addressed is inefficient uplink data transmission when a UE has no data to send but still transmits buffer status reports, leading to unnecessary signaling overhead and resource waste. The invention involves a method where a UE transmits uplink data along with a buffer status report (BSR) that indicates a buffer size of zero. This zero-sized BSR signals to the network that the UE has no pending data to transmit, allowing the network to optimize resource allocation. The method ensures that the BSR is sent only when the UE has actual uplink data to transmit, reducing unnecessary signaling. The zero-sized BSR can be triggered by specific conditions, such as the UE having data to send but no pending buffer status information. This approach improves spectral efficiency by preventing redundant transmissions while maintaining synchronization between the UE and the network. The technique is particularly useful in scenarios where UEs frequently switch between active and idle states, such as in machine-type communications or IoT applications. By minimizing unnecessary signaling, the method enhances overall network performance and reduces power consumption for the UE.
5. A User Equipment (UE) for operating in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising: a Radio Frequency (RF) module; and a processor operably coupled with the RF module and configured to: transmit uplink data; receive uplink grant after the uplink data is transmitted; consider that the uplink data transmission is performed successfully, if a resource size of the uplink grant is ‘zero;’ perform a Hybrid-ARQ (HARQ) process of the uplink data as successful uplink transmission; set a HARQ feedback value of the HARQ process to ‘ACK,’ wherein the setting of the resource size of the uplink grant to ‘zero’ includes that a transport block size of the uplink grant is set to zero.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically addressing efficient uplink data transmission and acknowledgment handling in User Equipment (UE). The problem solved is the need for a reliable and resource-efficient mechanism to confirm successful uplink data transmission without requiring additional downlink feedback, reducing signaling overhead and latency. The UE includes an RF module for wireless communication and a processor that manages uplink data transmission. After transmitting uplink data, the UE receives an uplink grant from the network. If the resource size of this grant is set to zero, the UE interprets this as confirmation that the uplink data was successfully received. The processor then completes the Hybrid-ARQ (HARQ) process for that data by marking it as a successful transmission and setting the HARQ feedback value to ‘ACK.’ The zero resource size is achieved by setting the transport block size of the uplink grant to zero, indicating no further uplink resources are needed. This approach eliminates the need for explicit downlink acknowledgment, streamlining the communication process and conserving network resources. The method ensures timely feedback while minimizing signaling, improving efficiency in wireless networks.
6. The UE according to claim 5 , wherein when the processor receives the uplink grant of which the resource size is zero, the UE doesn't generate a MAC PDU for the uplink grant.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to user equipment (UE) handling of uplink grants with zero resource size in cellular networks. The problem addressed is inefficient resource usage and unnecessary processing when a UE receives an uplink grant that allocates zero resources, which can lead to wasted power and computational overhead. The UE includes a processor configured to receive uplink grants from a base station. When the processor detects an uplink grant with a resource size of zero, it avoids generating a Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) for that grant. This prevents the UE from performing unnecessary MAC layer processing, such as buffer status reporting or padding, when no actual uplink transmission is required. The UE may still monitor the grant for potential scheduling information or control signaling, but it skips the MAC PDU generation step entirely. This optimization reduces power consumption and processing load, particularly in scenarios where the network frequently sends zero-resource grants for scheduling control or other purposes. The invention improves efficiency in both the UE and the network by eliminating redundant operations while maintaining compliance with uplink scheduling protocols.
7. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the processor doesn't generate a MAC PDU for the uplink grant even if there is a data available for transmission.
A wireless communication system involves user equipment (UE) and a base station exchanging data over a radio interface. In such systems, the base station allocates uplink resources to the UE via uplink grants, and the UE typically generates a Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) to transmit data when an uplink grant is received. However, in certain scenarios, such as when the UE is in a low-power or energy-saving mode, it may be desirable to suppress the generation of a MAC PDU even when data is available for transmission, to conserve power and reduce unnecessary signaling. The invention relates to a UE configured to selectively suppress MAC PDU generation for uplink grants. The UE includes a processor that determines whether to generate a MAC PDU for an uplink grant based on predefined criteria. If the criteria are met, the processor does not generate a MAC PDU, even if data is available for transmission. This suppression mechanism allows the UE to avoid unnecessary processing and signaling, improving power efficiency and reducing radio resource usage. The predefined criteria may include factors such as the UE's power state, network conditions, or specific configuration settings. The UE may also include a transceiver for receiving uplink grants and a memory for storing the criteria and configuration settings. This approach enhances energy efficiency in wireless communication systems, particularly for UEs operating in low-power modes.
8. The UE according to claim 5 , wherein the processor transmits a buffer status reporting of which a buffer size is set to zero with the uplink data.
A wireless communication system involves user equipment (UE) transmitting uplink data to a network. A challenge in such systems is efficiently managing buffer status reporting to avoid unnecessary signaling overhead while ensuring the network has accurate information about the UE's data transmission needs. Existing solutions may either transmit excessive buffer status reports or fail to provide timely updates, leading to inefficient resource allocation. The invention addresses this by modifying the UE's buffer status reporting mechanism. Specifically, the UE transmits uplink data along with a buffer status report where the reported buffer size is set to zero. This indicates to the network that the UE has no additional data to transmit beyond the current uplink transmission, reducing unnecessary signaling. The UE includes a processor that generates this zero-sized buffer status report and transmits it with the uplink data. This approach optimizes network resource usage by preventing the network from allocating unnecessary resources for future transmissions when the UE has no pending data. The solution is particularly useful in scenarios where the UE has completed its data transmission or has no immediate data to send, ensuring efficient use of uplink resources.
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August 11, 2020
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